Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Carnivora Order
Family Canidae
Wolves, such as dogs, foxes, jackals, coyotes and wild animals, are animals belonging to the Canidae family. These animals feed predominantly on meat, but as they can eat vegetables, in situations of scarcity, they are usually classified as omnivores. They are medium sized, have a long tail, non-retractable claws, long legs, and well-honed hearing and smell. They can live both alone and in groups.
There are four species of existing wolves:
kennels lupus: the gray wolf, with minimal risk of extinction, according to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature);
kennels rufus: the red wolf, in grave danger, according to the IUCN;
Canis simensis: the Ethiopian wolf, in danger, according to the IUCN;
Chrysocyon brachyurus: the maned wolf, almost threatened, according to the IUCN. This is the only species of wolf found in Brazil.
The maned wolf is the only animal belonging to the genus Chrysocyon, and is the largest canid in South America, presenting about one meter long, 45 centimeters of tail, 80 centimeters in height and 25 kilos. This animal, which lives for about fifteen years, has twilight habits, and is territorial and solitary. Thus, it forms couples only in the reproductive season.
Gestation lasts just over two months, giving rise to about three offspring. Thanks mainly to the loss of habitats, being run over, diseases transmitted by domestic dogs (such as distemper, adenovirus and rabies) and predatory hunting, this living being typical of the Brazilian cerrado has this status of conservation.
CURIOSITY:
The domestic dog is actually a subspecies of the gray wolf: Canis lupus familiaris. It is believed that it was domesticated over 130,000 years ago, from the discovery that some of these wolves, who approached to feed on the remains of food found in human clusters, were docile and sociable.
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Dog
Fox
By Mariana Araguaia
Biologist, specialist in Environmental Education
Brazil School Team
